Baby girl's room

I finally bought something for my baby girl's room! The top picture is already in Emily's room....and the bottom picture will go above baby girl's crib. I love that they coordinate!! Getting excited!!

Saying Goodbye!

Tonight is our last night with these cuties. And this will be the end of our foster care journey....for now. It's been such an experience! So many highs and lows. So many days spent in tears for these kids. So proud of them and ecstatic for their achievements. So happy to be there for them as they cling to me when they were fearful. We've been constantly told that this was an extreme foster care case and not the norm...but really we didn't know any different since it was our first...and really what is the norm with foster care?!? It's so sad and absolutely heartbreaking to see where these precious kids came from, but it's so amazing to see how far they have come and overcame as we send them on. We started this journey in hopes of adopting our #4...that didn't end up being the case...and we are thrilled to welcome our #4 in a few months. But we do have hopes to be foster parents again in the future...not to adopt...but just foster to foster. There are so many precious ones out there that just need a safe and loving home. 

Hanging out with Everett!

I love that he wants to hang out with me....and I love how he does it in his own way!! 😂

It's a Girl!!!!

Patrick, Elliott, Emily and I went in for my ultrasound today....we knew going in that one would be excited and one would be disappointed. There were tears....but they were mine! I don't know why I cry when I find out I'm having a girl!! Gosh you hormones!! But I am just so thrilled to be welcoming another girl into our family and home!!

Dentist

Everett was a champ today! He didn't have the patience for the dentist, but he let the hygienist in his mouth!

Elliott had zero cavities....so proud of him!

Emily has a "struggling" mouth...and will probably always struggle with her teeth problems. But she did great and I'm so proud of her too!!

Christmas morning!!

We were so fortunate to spend Christmas morning with my parents!!

It was a great morning...the kids had way to many presents! But we loved watching them open their gifts!! It was also special to have the foster kids with us....we hope they had a wonderful Christmas too!

The biggest surprise for me was what my parents did for us. We are buying their old car from them for Patrick. I gave my dad the check a day or 2 before Christmas. And on Christmas morning I saw all their envelopes...which they always give us money. I wasn't going to have anyone open them yet because I didn't want them to lose their money. But their was one for "Baby Irish"...I thought that was quite thoughtful. My dad urged me to open it...and he said...it has to be used for the baby. When I opened it...I just cried....it was the torn up check for the car!! And now that money can go towards this expensive baby of ours!! Emily was quite concerned because I don't think she's ever seen me cry before! That was the best surprise for us!!

 

Everett is 2!!

Oh my little baby is now TWO!!! It truly is unbelievable!!

It was so crazy and chaotic and emotional how he came into the world and got whisked off into a helicopter to go to the nicu. Oh those were crazy days!

But I just LOVE LOVE this little guy and all the JOY he brings to our family!!

Everett is a whirlwind...a tornado...a master of disaster! He has so much energy and knows what he wants!! But sadly, he doesn't know how to tell me what he wants. So it's a huge guessing game...ALL DAY LONG!!

Everett is late talker...he doesn't say any words....he grunts and points and drags you everywhere. We will see what his pediatrician says this week...but most likely we will be going to therapy soon.

Everett loves his food...and is very insistent on what kind of food he wants. 

He's also very opinionated on what he wears!! He pulls on his clothes and tries to get them off if he doesn't want to wear it. His favorite is shorts and a tshirt....just like his dad!

See that 1 candle on those cupcakes...yep...denial...couldn't come to the fact that he's 2! Patrick had to ask me...."isn't there suppose to be 2 candles???" So funny!

He did really good at unwrapping his presents all by himself...Christmas must've helped and prepped him! He was not interested in unwrapping his Christmas gifts.

And I was so surprised that he blew out his own candles! Both of them!!!

He wasn't really interested in eating his cupcake...he just wanted to play with his toys!!